After arriving from Barcelona as a defensive midfielder for £24million in 2010, Mancini transformed him into an attacking colossus.

Yaya Toure's Manchester City record - Premier League

154

Games

48

Goals

2

Titles

Toure still has two-and-a-half years left on his contract.

And City have made it clear they will not be handing him a further extension given he will turn 32 in May.

The champions resisted Toure’s spurious attempt to force his departure last summer, when his agent claimed the club had insulted him by not presenting him with a birthday cake during a post-season trip to Abu Dhabi.

And while the midfielder hasn’t been as potent this season as he was when scoring 24 goals to help City win the title and Capital One Cup last year, his absence has still been keenly felt since departing for Africa.

City, however, are aware that Toure’s powers are starting to wane and this time they may challenge him to make good on his latest threat to leave.